Train order and signal hoop



Feb. 11, 1930. F, w, F LT 1,746,388

TRAIN ORDER AND SIGNAL HOOP Filed Feb. 6, 1928 NVENTOR Patented Feb. 11, 1930 FRED w. ro 'rz, or SHREVE, OHIO TRAIN ORDER AND SIGNAL HOOP Application filed February 6, 1928. Serial No. 252,248.

My present invention has reference to a combination train order and signal hoop.

' The primary objectof the invention is the provision of a device for this purpose whereby the towerman may deliver messages to the engineer or fireman of a train passing the tower without necessitating the slowing down of the train and without danger to either the towerman or to the engineer or the fireman. A; further object is the provision of a device for this purpose in which rays from a lamp adjustably supported'on the hoop, are directed onto the envelope containing" the messagexthatis supported from the hoop, so that the device will successfully be employed at night,-or duringstormy or cloudy weather.

.A still further object is'the provision of a 1 device for this purpose in which the hoop has an outercasing of flexible material, the ends 2040f the hoophaving pivotally associated there withbrackets provided with key-hole slots for the breakable ends of the tape that supports the message, the said hoop having centrally pivoted thereto a reversible support for i a lamp, which lamp has its bulb surrounded by a shield so that the rays of light therefrom will be directed only onto the message, the

hoop having attached thereto an angularly disposed rod that merges into a handle and which rod supports thereon a battery for a double lamp, which is employed as a block indicator Whereby the operator in the tower can signal to the train any restrictions regarding the speed of the train or otherorders.

To the attainment of the'above broadly stated objects and others which will present themselves as the nature of the invention is better understood the improvement further resides in certain other novel features of construction, combination and operative association of parts, one satisfactory embodiment of which is disclosed by the accompanying drawings. r

In the drawings:

.Figure 1 is a plan view ofthe improvement. 1

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional View approximately on the line 33 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view to illustrate the manner in which one of the shoulders on the flash-light carrying bar is brought to contact with the offset portion of the supporting bracket for the said bar, the dotted lines showing the manner in which the second shoulder on the bar contacts with the second edge of the offset portion of the bracket. i

The improvement contemplates the employment of a split spring ho0p,'1. This hoop is preferably in the nature of a flat band and has arrangedion its side arms compressible facings 2. The facings are preferably in the nature of rubber tubes. The outerlends of the split spring band that comprisesthe hoop 1 are formed with straight extensions to which are pivoted, as at 3, plates or brackets 4. Each of the plates has at its outer end a key-hole slot 5 for the reception of the enlarged or knotted ends 6 of the tape or paper 7 on which the envelope containing, the message for the engineer of atrain is adhesively secured. The tape or strip 7, adjacent to its ends 6, is weakened sothat the envelope 8 can be readily removed from the holding elements or plates 4. Of course, the hoop 1 is of a size to freely permit of the passage of the hand and arm, of the engineer or fireman therethrough,'so that he can readily grasp themessage contained in the envelope.

Secured to the center of the hoop 1 there is anangularly extending arm 9, which has its outer or free end bent at an angle, as indicated by the numeral 10, and to this angle end there is secured a rod 11, The rod 11 is of a desired length and merges into a hand grip 12. The hand grip is preferably corrugated or otherwise roughened so that the towerman can effectively grip the same.

On the arm 9, adjacent to its point of connection withthe hoop 1 there is fixedly secured an anglebracket 13, and pivotally securedto-this bracket, as at 14, there is one end of aplate orbar 15 whose outer end is rounded to provide the same with an eye portion 16.

.The bar'15, oppositeits pivotal connection with the bracket 13 is widened laterally to provide the same with shoulders 17. One of 1 these shoulders 17 is designed to contact with the central ofl'set portion of the bracket 13 when the plate 15 is swung to the position disclosed by Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, and the second shoulder is designed to contact -with the opposite edge of the said offset portion of the bracket when the plate 15 is swung to a reverse position from that disclosed by the said Figures 1, 2 and 3. When in the position disclosed by Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings the plate 15 will arrange the flashlight hereinafter to be described in a position whereby the rays of light therefrom will be directed onto the envelope 8 and when swun to the last mentioned position the flashlight may be removed from the end 16 of the said bar 15 as when the said lamp is to receive new batteries or be otherwise repaired. There is a frictional engagement between the bracket and the bar 15 so that the free swinging of the bar will be prevented.

The eye end of the bar is designed to receive therethrough and to frictionally engage with the barrel or body portion of a lamp 18, and the bulb for this lamp is surrounded by a shield 19. The shield forms an important part of the lamp as the same diroots the rays of light onto the envelope '8 and, therefore, such glare from the lamp will not be reflected onto the eyes of the engineer or the fireman.

Fixedly supported by suitable clips or brackets on the rod 11 there is a battery 20 of a special construction and design and to the posts of this battery there are connected wires which are suitably encased. The encased wires 21 are guided through loops or eyes 22 on the rod 11, and these wires are directed to the central portion of what I will term a double lamp 23. The lamp 23 has both its ends provided with lenses 24 which are differently colored and, of course, the bulbs for the lamp are arranged inward of the lenses. The body of the lamp 23 is centrally formed with an eye portion 25 designed to engage with the hook 26 on the rod 11. The lenses 24 for the lamp 23 are colored green and yellow, respectively, and the said lamp 23 is employed by the towerman as a block indicator to trains passing the tower so that the engineers of such trains will be cautioned as to the rate of speed of the trains, or with other respects regarding the movement of such trains.

The simplicity and advantages of my improvement will, it is thought, e understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art to which such invention relates, when the foregoing description has been carefully read in connection with the accompanying drawings. By swingably supporting the lamp 18 the imrovement may be successfully employed for delivering messages to the fireman or engineer for trains passing a tower in opposite directions. The frictional engagement between the eye 16 and the barrel or body of the lamp permits of the longitudinal adjustment of the lamp with respect to the envelope 8. The advantages of the block signalling lamp 23 will be understood and the device is of a size and length to insure safety of the operator delivering the messages and the engineers or firemen receiving the messages.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. In a device for the purpose set forth, a split spring hoop whose arms exert a tension away from each other and whose extremities are straight, a compressible facing for the hoop, pivoted brackets on the straight ends of the hoop each having a key hole slot for the reception of the enlarged or knotted end of a tape or paper on which an envelope containing a message is adhesively secured and a handle to which the hoop is centrally secured.

2. In a device for the purpose set forth, a split spring hoop whose arms exert a tension away from each other and whose extremities are straight, a compressible facing for the hoop, pivoted brackets onthe straight ends of the hoop each having a key hole slot for the reception of the enlarged or knotted end of a tape or paper on which an envelope containing a message is adhesively secured, a handle having an angle end fixed to the center of the hoop, an angle bracket fixed on said end of the handle, a plate pivoted between the a bracket and the said end of the handle and in frictional contact therewith, said plate, adj acent its pivot having widened portions to provide its edges with laterally extending shoulders either one of which being engageable with the bracket when the plate is swung FRED W. FOLTZ. 

